title: Musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial work environment, among Swedish commercial pilots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The associations between psychosocial work conditions and health in pilots are understudied, and therefore, the associations between the psychosocial work conditions and musculoskeletal problems among Swedish commercial pilots were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, a self-administered questionnaire study was performed among pilots in one Swedish commercial airline: 354 pilots participated (61 %). Musculoskeletal symptoms and the psychosocial work conditions measured by the demand control social support model were investigated. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were expressed per change of one unit on the interquartile score scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pilots on long-haul flights had less elbow symptoms (OR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.14-0.85), and women had more hand symptoms (OR 2.90, 95 % CI 1.11-7.52). There were associations between high work demands and symptoms from the neck (OR 2.04, 95 % CI 1.45-2.88), shoulders (OR 1.46, 95 % 1.05-2.03), elbows (OR 1.79, 95 % CI 1.10-2.90) and low back (OR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.02-1.96) in pilots. Low social support was associated with symptoms from the neck (OR 1.87, 95 % 1.35-2.58), shoulders (OR 1.56, 95 % CI 1.14-2.14) and low back (OR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.18-2.24). Low supervisor support was associated with neck (OR 1.67, 95 % CI 1.22-2.27), shoulders (OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.02-1.87) and low back symptoms (OR 1.48, 95 % CI 1.09-2.01). The associations were mainly found among first officers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Musculoskeletal symptoms in pilots can be affected by poor psychosocial work conditions such as high demands and low social support, especially for first officers. The psychosocial aspects of organisational changes in commercial airlines should be taken into consideration.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden, roma.runeson.broberg@medsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: Roma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Runeson-Broberg
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norbäck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*